Part 37 (1/2)

Here the guide halted the party, concealing them behind a ruined wall.

From this point a road, deeply sunk below the surface of the plain, ran past the place where one of the Spanish pickets held post. It was the same post where, but a short while before, the earless Indian had succeeded in deceiving the sentry. The one now on post was not the same. The guard had been meanwhile relieved and another sentry had taken the place; who, by the uneasy glances which, from time to time, he kept casting around him, was evidently under the belief that his position was a dangerous one.

Many causes combined to render the new sentinel sufficiently uncomfortable. The night was disagreeably cold; the companions.h.i.+p of the corpses, whose mutilated state presented death before his eyes in its most hideous aspect; their odour horribly infecting the air;--all these causes, coming together, could not fail to inspire the soldier with a secret fear.

To chase away his unpleasant reflections--as well as to keep his blood warm against the chill breeze--he walked to and fro in double quick time. The only moments when he remained motionless were at those intervals when it was necessary for him to pause and call out the usual phrase: ”_Alerta, centinela_!”

”I am sorry for the poor devil!” said Costal, ”we must send him to keep guard in the next world.”

The wall behind which they had halted, although tumbled down and in ruins, still rose sufficiently high to screen the party from the eyes of the sentinel. Moreover, between the latter and the ruin, the ground was thickly studded with aloe plants and bushes of wild wormwood.

”Let us first get rid of the sentry,” said Costal; ”that accomplished, scatter yourselves among the bushes, and leave the rest to me.”

On giving this counsel, the Zapoteque borrowed a sling from one of the Indians, in which he placed a stone carefully chosen. Then ordering two others to make ready their bows, he continued, addressing himself to Don Cornelio--

”You, Senor Captain, can give the signal. Take two stones--strike them together so that the fellow may hear you--strike them twice. And you,”

continued he, turning to the bowmen, ”on hearing the second stroke, take good aim, and let fly your arrows.”

Costal stood holding the sling in readiness. It was one of those rare occasions when the bow and the sling serve better than any kind of firearm.

Lantejas brought the two stones into collision with a loud crack.

The sentry heard the concussion, suddenly halted in his steps, brought his piece to the ”ready,” and stood listening.

The Captain gave the second signal. The stone and arrows hissed simultaneously through the air; and, struck by all three, the soldier fell dead without even uttering a cry.

”Go! scatter yourselves among the bushes,” cried Costal, hurriedly; ”the rest I can manage better without you.”

Don Cornelio and the Indians, in obedience to Costal's injunction, glided from behind the wall, and crept forward among the aloes.

As they were advancing, directly in front of them, there arose the cry, ”_Alerta, centinela_!” It came from the place where the sentry had just fallen; and Don Cornelio, on looking in that direction, perceived, to his horror and surprise, that the man was once more upon his feet, and walking his rounds as if nothing had happened!

Lantejas turned to demand an explanation from Costal, but the latter was nowhere to be seen. The Captain then faced towards the other Indians; but these, instead of concealing themselves any longer behind the bushes, had risen erect, and were running past the sentinel, who seemed to take no notice of them!

A ray of light broke upon the mind of the innocent Lantejas.

”_Santissima_!” cried he, ”the sentinel--it must be Costal himself!”

And so it was. The living had replaced the dead; and so aptly did Costal imitate the voice and movements of the soldier who had fallen, that the other sentries along the line had not the slightest suspicion of the change that had taken place.

On comprehending the situation of affairs, Don Cornelio sprang to his feet; and, pa.s.sing the decoy sentinel, ran on at full speed towards the walls of the town--where his Indians had already preceded him.

Seeing his captain clear through the lines, Costal flung away the shako and musket of the soldier, and hastened after.

Soon overtaking Don Cornelio, he cried out, ”Quicker, run quicker, Senor Captain! The others will give the alarm as soon as they have missed their comrade!”

As he spoke, he caught Don Cornelio by the wrist, and dragged him along at such a rate that the Captain was scarce able to keep upon his feet.

In a few seconds they reached the line of the Mexican sentries, who, already warned of their approach by the Indians, permitted them to enter the town without opposition. On entering the Piazza they encountered Trujano himself; who, with his sword girded on, was making a round of the village before retiring to rest.